The good dream kept people drunk, and when the sky suddenly brightened, Concubine Zhen woke up slowly.
Xiaoyu gently lifted up Zhenfei's hair and combed it carefully with a peach wood comb. The soft hair changed into different shapes in Xiaoyu's hands.
The senior palace maids in the Cining Palace were not only literate, but also had superb skills.
The two senior palace maids who served Empress Dowager Hengle were named Bian Tao and Chu Chu.
Amygdala knows how to read people's expressions and is good at summarizing other people's behavior and inferring their motives.
Chuchu is good at embroidery, and her embroidery is more exquisite than the clothes made by the Shanggong Bureau.
Ah Qing has sharp eyes and ears, and is very vigilant. She can detect danger in advance and thus protect the personal safety of Concubine Xian.
Xiaoyu is good at combing hair, and she can set different hairstyles according to different face shapes.
As the saying goes: Buddha relies on gold ornaments, and people rely on clothes. Xiaoyu's hair combing skills not only enhance Concubine Zhen's appearance, but also improve her temperament.
Outfit, clothing, and posture can best reflect a person's temperament.
You won’t know until you count. Once you count, you will be shocked to find that there are so many beautiful women hidden in the harem.
After Concubine Zhen finished dressing up, she washed her hands, applied hand cream, and put on her new armor. Chuchu personally came to invite Concubine Zhen to have breakfast.
Gu Yingxia had arrived a long time ago. She was carrying a golden cage with a lively parrot hanging in it.
When Zhenfei passed by the birdcage, the parrot nodded and bowed as it spoke to her.
"Good luck to the Queen, good luck to the Queen."
"Good luck to you too."
The parrot had brightly colored feathers and was quite human-like. As soon as Concubine Zhen left, the parrot opened its cage by itself and flew around the room.
Gu Yinwei came out to eat. Today's breakfast was still millet porridge, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and pickled radish. The only difference was that there was an extra plate of fried eggs.
"Queen Mother, are you still raising chickens?"
"I didn't raise it, it was raised by Wei Junzhai. He rented a piece of land outside the capital, saying he wanted to raise a phoenix. He also sent the eggs here."
"I hope he gets what he wants."
"I also hope that he can get what he wants sooner rather than later. Otherwise, I don't know how many eggs will be stuffed into the Cining Palace."
After breakfast, the three of them took a leisurely stroll. Gu Yingxia deliberately refused to speak to Gu Yinwei out of spite. Concubine Zhen, intending to ease the awkwardness between them, suggested, "Where are the eggs sent by Wei Junzhai? I want to go and see."
Gu Yingxia pushed open the door of the tea room, and inside was full of bamboo baskets filled with eggs.
"It's summer time, it will easily go bad if left alone." Concubine Zhen sighed.
"Is there any way to deal with it?" Gu Yingxia asked.
"Actually, I have a bad idea."
"A bad idea is better than a skinny egg."
Gu Yinwei returned to the study to read, while Concubine Zhen and Concubine Xian were whispering to each other and planning a plan to trick people.
Bian Tao was worried, "Master, the two concubines are thinking of sending eggs to the palaces. Do you think we should stop them?"
"Let them go. They have nothing to do anyway, so let them check the expenses of each palace and see if the concubines in each palace are implementing the emperor's strategy of increasing revenue and reducing expenditure."
"Yes, Master."
Upon hearing this, Bian Tao stepped out and went to the side hall to pass on the message.
Concubine Xian and Concubine Zhen readily agreed, "I understand, I understand. I will investigate thoroughly."
The two of them set off in a grand procession. Xiaoyu held a gong in his hand, and Ah Qing held a wooden stick. Behind them followed twelve eunuchs carrying baskets covered with red cloth. The eunuchs were also dressed as peddlers, with red scarves on their heads and red silk tied around their waists.
The team moved while beating the gong, and stopped in front of Liangxiao Palace. Ah Qing banged the gong loudly, and Ah Gui came out to open the door himself, and then helped Xifei out to watch the fun.
"Empress Xifei, the two concubines are here, and they seem to be here to give us gifts."
"Let's go and greet them."
Concubine Xi stepped over the threshold and bowed earnestly. Concubine Xian said, "It was really hard for Concubine Xi to carry the dragon fetus. Today, I have come specially to give you a gift."
Concubine Zhen clapped her hands, and the palace maid behind her brought out a turntable with a bamboo stick on it. Concubine Zhen signaled Concubine Xi to turn the bamboo stick.
Concubine Xi symbolically turned the turntable, and it stopped at the square with the word "golden egg". Concubine Zhen called out, "Concubine Xi has won a golden egg."
Ah Qing held up a golden egg, and Ah Gui couldn't help but open his mouth wide. Happiness came too suddenly. As soon as he opened the door, he met two concubines giving him golden eggs.
Concubine Xian explained, "Concubine Xi has three chances to turn the dial, and there are two left."
Concubine Xi drew the number twice more, but this time she didn't get the golden egg but two baskets of eggs.
Concubine Xian said in a loud voice: "Ah Qing, pick four baskets of eggs and send them to Concubine Xi in Liangxiao Palace."
"Thank you, Aunt Aqing. Xiaoyu, please send someone to show you the way." Concubine Xi said a few polite words.
Ah Qing took the opportunity of delivering eggs to look at the decoration of Liangxiao Palace. The window paper of the main hall was Qianyun gauze, a charcoal fire was lit in the tea room, and a little palace maid was guarding the door.
The other senior palace maids had basically no work to do and all followed behind Concubine Xi to protect her.
Almond came out and nodded, Gu Yingxia nodded, and then they went to the next palace with banging hammers.
Sun Shurong was busy embroidering nightgown for the emperor. The palace maid told her that two concubines had come to the palace to bring gifts, but Sun Shurong was not interested.
"Giving gifts, we are of low status, what good gifts can we receive?"
"The quality of the gifts given by the two concubines today depends entirely on their luck. I heard that Concubine Xu received two golden eggs."
As soon as the palace maid finished speaking, Sun Shurong immediately became interested. Giving eggs as a gift was not unusual, but giving golden eggs was extremely rare.
"Let's go out and take a look."
Sun Shurong put down her needlework, lifted her skirt and went out to see.
Concubine Xian ordered someone to strike the gong, and the maidservant beside Concubine Zhen came forward holding a turntable. Sun Shurong followed Concubine Xian's instructions and moved the bamboo stick on the turntable. The stick stopped at a blank space, and Concubine Xian said, "Sun Shurong, send four baskets of eggs."
Sun Shurong was not convinced in her heart, but she did not forget to express her gratitude.
"Thank you both concubines for the reward."
It turns out to be a liar. How could he give me a golden egg? Absolutely impossible.
Sun Shurong turned and was about to leave, but Concubine Xian called her back, "Sun Shurong, you still have two chances."
Could I give up this opportunity? Four baskets of eggs, I don’t know how many days they would last. She had already foreseen the menu for the next month: steamed eggs, fried eggs, scrambled eggs, sweet and sour eggs, and omelets.
Sun Shurong's thoughts were in a mess. She moved the bamboo stick randomly, and the stick stopped on the grid marked with a red dot. Sun Shurong thought, "Oh no! There must be four more baskets of red-shell eggs."
Oh my god, there are so many eggs. I don’t know when I can finish them.
The virtuous concubine struck the gong, and Sun Shurong felt like she was facing a great enemy.
"Congratulations to Sun Shurong for winning a golden egg."
What, golden eggs? She must have heard it right. It turns out that if you turn to the square with a red dot, you can get a golden egg.
"Xian Taifei, I want to turn again."
"Okay, go ahead."
Sun Shurong moved the bamboo stick hard, and it stopped at the blank space again.
It turns out that people should not be too greedy. She should have stopped while she was ahead.
Baskets of eggs were carried into Sun Shurong's bedroom. Sun Shurong wanted to cry but had no tears, and she hated herself for being so careless.
Sun Shurong lifted the red cloth on the bamboo basket. The eggs in the basket were neatly arranged. Out of sight, out of mind, Sun Shurong covered it with the red cloth.
"When we carried it to the warehouse, it was full of eggs. We'd have to wait till the end of time to eat them."
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